I actually want a flat bar gravel bike….

Afan has to be my worst well not mine but my other half, was pushed off her bike on the final wall descent, has barely touched a bike since.

Try going a different time to the weekend warriors??

I was out this morning 8am, no one else on the trails, odd runner out and about, as I got back to the cafe at 10 others just starting off. On a Sunday I go as early as possible, Saturday mid afternoon,

Yep started 3 weeks ago….normally kicks in April so a fair bit early this year, over the counter tablets haven’t touched it, I’ve got some stronger ones from last year they last until lunch time then it’s bad again, got the doctors Wednesday, hopefully get something stronger.

Specialized paint work hasn’t been good for a few years tbh!! My old 26er camber didn’t have a mark on it after 3 years of abuse, my last camber scratched after it’s first wash, my new fuse is the same, even broke the water bottle screw in bit after 8 weeks of getting it. My work crosstrail has scratches and chips but I have no idea where or how it only goes to work 3 miles each way!

I will say this my new stumpy I know it’s carbon and a different paint style it’s dull rather than shiny so hoping that will be better.

None of my bikes came with any protective tape except the down tube, seems odd yours did.

My oh is laughing at me, hayfever in the cold! luckily still have my prescription meds from last year, I always get it early season but never this early!

We live quite close to an industrial estate so put it down to that, as I was ok until we moved. Pollen count is back to low tomorrow so hopefully ok this weekend.

I’ve got the carbon st comp and it’s a great bike, takes a plus 650b or 29er so for me best of both worlds.

I admit I didn’t get on with it at first but after a trip to glentress and some tinkering it’s an awesome bike!!

I’ve got a 2019 stumpy and love it! Awesome bike climbs well descends better, it was a love hate when I got it, had to set it up dual it in to my needs, since then it’s been my best bike, imho.

I’m not sure about the 2018 but had a 2016 camber, similar frame etc…that was a good bike but for me just a tad short. The new stumpy takes all the minor faults and makes it that much better.

It’s an avid dB-3 twin pot front caliper, looking online I might have to bite the bullet and pay another £50 for rotors, pad wear etc…

Used wrong and they become a weight round your neck, I hate the fact I have mine, had to use it to help with things we needed when we got the house.

It’s on interest free for 3 years, I didn’t pay much attention to paying it off, now have 12 months to clear it, it’s got to go and never used again!

I think it’s right if i can’t afford it I can’t have it. The problem is sometimes you think what did I spend it on?? I have no idea sometimes, it was cut up 12 months ago and I plan to have it gone by the summer, then just try to live life within my means…difficult when the house needs many repairs but if it’s beans on toast and I still get to go biking then bonus!

At the moment it’s redundancy rumours again…I just seem to be in the wrong job each time, saying that in my location 6 of us have all gone through it at least twice in the last 4 years, gone from having a very safe job to one that’s always at risk every 12 months.

My OH tells me just take it off, play the Xbox or get your fitness back on the bike as haven’t been on it since I’ve been off, she has even gone out and got me some heat pads that strap to my back..

I’ve been walking everyday for the past week, dr recommended even in pain better to walk a short distance than nothing, been getting further and further, the cold hasn’t helped tbh its had a negative effect.

The cold yesterday and today hasn’t helped, I thought I was on the road to recovery but familiar aches and pains cane flooding back….

I can only say what the docs have done for me I’m on naproxen and co-codamol, doing lots of short walks, I don’t sit fit more than 30mins which is annoying my other half a fair bit, I got an exercise mat and have done some exercises advised by the osteopath, I’ve had 3 visits to as well and while still in pain it’s getting better day by day.

The two sessions I have had helped massively I can get up in the morning with no pain, yes the pain starts as the day goes on but it’s a start.

My aim is to get back on the bike, I’ve got a couple of weeks off work so that’s my time to get fully fit and able to work and bike again, if I can get through the day with no pain then it’s all good!

Getting back on the bike? Any advice? Hints tips? Been off work 10 days and missing not being on the bike, was thinking my plus bike or full bouncer round something tame like the dog at Cannock.

Been lucky as in the pain is now manageable, and I know I should return to work before thinking of biking but would rather see if I can bike before getting back to work. So any pointers??

Many thanks for those who recommended an osteopath, cost was £45 for an hour session, yes I feel no better but he explained everything was friendly helpful and a nice guy to talk to. He said I’ve damaged my level 3 disc the fluid has moved to the left hence muscle pain in my upper legs and the other issues I’m having. I have a trapped nerve where the fluid has moved, looking at 3-4 week recovery more tablets as my back muscles are inflammed. Feel happier knowing what I’ve done, next step doctors for meds and a fit note.

Thanks again!

Quite a few on here said osteopath and I asked a friend who is a nurse who said the same even if it’s just the one appointment to rule things out, my only loss is £50 which if there’s any improvement or even a better understanding I’m happy enough.

Many thanks for all the replies, today I’ve used a heat pad that wraps round still found it difficult to walk sit etc but not as bad getting up and initially moving but it’s painful enough. The toughest part for me is time off work, I hate my job but I hate letting people down, I know while there’s pain I can’t risk rushing back so I’m looking at a few weeks off that hurts more tbh. I don’t want to rush back and end up making it worse or being vunerable, when I did the initial injury I was solo at work for 5 hours that’s not a risk I can take again.

Today it’s much worse the diazepam isn’t touching it tbh just makes me sleep, I’ve contacted an oestopath and have an appointment next week, told them what the issue is and they say they can help relieve the pain but might be painful to start with, £50 a session seems the going rate locally. Once on the mend I’ve got an exercise mat and a dvd yesterday for Pilates thanks to amazon just need to recover first!

Been using deep heat but today’s the first day of those heat pads you wrap round, a short walk and that’s about all I can manage.

I think I know what triggered it, I went for a cycle down the canals on nyd normally I get off at the bridges with the stepped bricks but this time i shot over then with speed I’m guessing the juddering has upset my back, can’t think of much else or it could just be innocently changing my shoes at work when it happened. Ether way I’m definitely taking better care of my back in the future.

Pilates? Home dvd style or join a club? I prefer the idea of home as shift work so can fit it in easy enough.

Thanks all, I will admit it’s worse today, struggled to get out of bed, I have a new mattress and one of those toppers that forms to you body shape to help support.

The doctor prescribed some diazepam but that’s not touching it tbh, tried some stretches from the above google searches and it’s just immensely painful, but will keep at it. I need to get through this as it’s impacting on everything I do, been advised it could take weeks until I’m fit to return to work and not to even consider going back until I’m pain free.

Tbh when I first did it this morning I was in agony, after 20 mins I tried to walk it off and was mobile, sat down for breakfast 30 min break and couldn’t get back up, took me 10 mins to get out of the chair tried again to walk it off but it got too much, luckily a colleague drove me to the doctors as I cycled to work. After doctors took the tablets which knocked me out tbh for at least 5 hrs and have been sitting 15-20 mins then up just to move, I’m dreading trying to get up tomorrow morning.

I’m on call every night midnight till 6am, Sunday night it’s 10pm till 6am, luckily it’s not just me but we don’t get paid for it, we occasionally mute the call so it goes to the next person in line, I mistakenly blocked the number on my iPhone for 6 months….

We do get paid the minute we get the call till we get back home after the call out, in the last year I’ve had 5 call outs due to break in attempts, one was particularly bad I had never seen so many police at 3am it was that bad I couldn’t go in the building as the police dogs where in the building looking for the burglars.

Christmas is the only time we get paid but it’s specifically targeted over that period. It’s £75 for the day and our hourly rate if we get called out.

Loads of watches!

8 G-SHOCK ranging from a cheap day to day one to a Japanese import, and 5 limited edition ones including a stupid impulse buy £400 silver 35th anniversary model.

Posh DKNY one I use for weddings, interviews, and special occasions.

Swatch I got at the Greek Olympics

Seiko one that runs off movement, although feels old compared to my G-SHOCK tough solar ones.

Last one is a Festina TDF edition, will never wear it, was a present still in its box.

Lol!!

Not sure it helps? I generally ride a small have a fuse in small and my camber was small but my first camber years ago in 26er mode was a medium, my new stumpy is also a medium im 5ft5 ish, 30 inside leg…perfect fit…just saying as the geometry seems different this year.

I found first few rides I just didn’t like mine, mines the Carbon comp st, battleship grey, but once I started hitting some bigger days out, tweaked air pressures, tyre pressures and a few trips running 650b+ I love it, and yes it’s the same frame as the s-works, just heavier kit but gives me hope of getting it lighter.  Possibly the best bike I’ve ever had!

You would think there is mileage in being a good lbs? My local is always fully booked, I know simple job I could do but I needed my tubeless sorted, I got most of it but everytime I try to refit the tyre I get more sealant on me than in the tyre, 4 week wait.

If they just reduced shop space and open up more workshop space? And actually get a reputation for good repairs on the day maybe it’s good money Or bike storage, I would happily pay £10 a day for secure insured bike storage in bad weather who wants to change a tube after work due to a flat when Evans or another lbs could do this? I say this as I had a double flat in the pouring rain, walked past a Halfords and nope too busy, walked past a hawk cycle nope we don’t have the time, a mobile cycle mechanic who has a small workshop about 2 miles from home sorted it out and it meant I didn’t get my work clothes dirty or trying to change them on a busy road, I can’t be the only one to have this happen.

Put everything else bar essentials online and have a click collect service.

I could be wrong but it could work!

If we got a tandem she wouldn’t pedal, I’ve suggested selling the bike a few times to be met with a chunk of resistance, suggested the electric bike route even hired one for her but on the day excuses for not riding so wasn’t used.

I guess I should give up and leave it be.

There was a group of 3 yesterday doing bits backwards, I came across them a couple of times spooky wood climb coming down and later on in the day blue velvet same group, nearly took out a group of kids on the trails.

On a positive note it’s great to see so many kids and parents out on the bikes yesterday, lots of big groups very different to my normal Cannock chase ride.

For me it’s important it’s time together, both work shifts it’s rare we get a day off together so it’s quality time in the great outdoors, and during the week I bike solo most the time or with one or two mates when they can, I guess it’s nice to share a hobby and my favourite moments biking have been Nevis red and wolftrax with my oh. Except one day out in wales but that’s going to take some beating!

Her idea of a fun is a beach holiday lying in the sun, which we do once a year for two weeks, it drives me round the bend no biking.

Her not me lol, any discussion around fitness, health, just fun leads to full on teenage strop from a 40 year old, it’s crazy!

Sulks….

Well I’ve been riding the new stumpy all summer and it’s awesome, how did I come to this…well today went back to my fuse and spent the 17 miles wishing I was riding the stumpy!

It was last weeks outing that made me swap, I take the train and the stumpy was getting unwanted attention, and as I only drive when I go to wales or Scotland I didn’t want to risk it so took the less attention seeking fuse, guess I will be driving to Cannock in future.

The new stumpjumper has grown on me, it climbs better it descends well, the suspension just works, I’m not sold on the cassette I prefer the sunrace on the fuse as there’s no massive gap between gears, but other than that I’m happy with the bike, Scotland soon should be a blast!!

Rapha I understand, they have mid season gaps and if you want something it’s pretty much out of stock, been trying to get a technical t-shirt for months, they are great!  Plus they must of got more business from team sky deal, the amount of rapha t-shirts still seen in the crowds and the roadies my way there’s always a few rapha team sky kits but never seen any of the new kit. I will admit I have a ton of team sky stuff from rapha. They need to get the price point right, sale stuff fly’s out maybe they should lower prices all year and no fire sale each year??

Evans I’m indifferent the bham store is terrible, well the I’m assuming the manager or deputy complete arse, remember getting a new bike, I was passing store and the bike was sat there in the work shop signed off and ready to go, he refused to let me have it as my appointment was Friday…was tempted to cancel the order.

I don’t think the issue is the bike, or Cannock is just the idiots it attracts, I’ve given up on Cannock on a weekend, luckily I get a midweek day off, this week 2, so I will get the train to cannock and have a blast round when no one else is about, much more friendly and fun.

Although would love a go on a trek fuel ex electric version they look great fun!

I run ground controls all year round, but my plus wheels are sporting some bonty xr4 team edition in 2.8’s looking forward to trying these out.

Thanks, didn’t notice the sirrus having the wider tyres, might be able to use my crosstrail wheels and swap over between road duty and the canals.

Yep got it on my iPad coming up security issue, but fine on my iPhone…

Thanks! That cube looks just what I’m after.

My one bike is a carbon frame, i use the Thule frame protectors for the clamp, often just clamp the seat post as that’s not carbon and use pipe lagging to widen the tube as it’s a dropper, it’s more to keep it stable as the wheel straps are pretty firm.